Ondo: The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun, has successfully rescued a kidnapped victim and arrested a father along with his three sons in Oba-Ile Akoko, situated in the Akoko South West Local Government Area. Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, the Amotekun Corps Commander, made this announcement while parading 28 suspects involved in kidnap-related cases and another 15 for various criminal offenses in Akure on Tuesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the arrested individuals include Usman, 33; Wahab, 27; Yakubu, 18; and their father, Iliasu, 56. In addition to the arrests, Amotekun operatives recovered drugs, drinks, cigarettes, and an item resembling a camouflage that was allegedly used to blindfold the kidnapped victim. The arrests followed the victim’s family reporting the incident to the Amotekun command after the kidnappers refused to release the victim despite a ransom being paid.
The Amotekun commander explained that the victim was kidnapped en route to Oba Akoko, and although the family had initially arranged a ransom without informing the authorities, they eventually sought help from Amotekun after the kidnappers continued to threaten them.
Adeleye detailed that during the rescue operation, the kidnappers attacked the Amotekun personnel, but the team managed to rescue the victim. The kidnappers had reportedly tortured the victim with knives and cutlasses, causing head injuries, and the victim was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The Amotekun personnel were able to recover more than 75 percent of the ransom paid. Adeleye emphasized that the command discourages ransom payments; however, since the money belongs to the family, it was returned to them. All the money recovered at the scene was handed over to a family member of the victim for safekeeping and was only displayed during the press briefing.